Voices of Hope: Suicide Should Never Be An Option

KUED takes a unique and powerful look at a social challenge that is seldom discussed - young people taking their own lives in Utah. Told largely through the searing personal stories of young filmmakers whose lives have been touched by suicide, the documentary is a collaboration between KUED, Spy Hop Productions and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (Utah Chapter).

Utah's overall suicide rate is the 10th highest in the nation. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Utah males ages 15 to 19, who die at a rate nearly double the national rate. Primary risk factors for suicide often include some form of mental illness, yet social stigmas and lack of understanding about mental illness are major barriers to intervention and treatment.

Five young adults tell their stories through short videos they have produced, which show a range of how young people deal with the challenges of adolescence and mental illness. KUED producers Colleen Casto and Elizabeth Southwell incorporated the short films into an hour-long documentary.